Spring Fishing Tips, Tackle Trends & The Future of the Sport | Off the Water Podcast w/ Hank Parker

In this episode of Off the Water, Hank Parker dives into everything you need to know about springtime fishing! We break down how fishing pressure affects the bite, must-know tips and tricks for this time of year, and the latest trends in the tackle industry. Plus, we tackle (no pun intended) the rising costs of boats and gear—how inflation is shaping the sport and whether fishing is heading in the right direction.

🎣 Got a question for Hank? Drop it in the comments!
👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more fishing wisdom!

💻 Helpful Links & Resources:
🎣 Hank Parker’s Official Website: ⁠https://hankparker.com⁠
🎣Hank Parker’s Bait Shop Website: ⁠www.hpbaits.com⁠
📱 Follow Hank Parker on Facebook: @hankparker
📱Follow Hank Parker on Instagram: @hank.parker
👉 Check out Huckleberry Apparel: ⁠⁠https://www.huckleberryapparel.com/⁠
👉 Support High School Fishing: ⁠⁠https://form.jotform.com/240526559976067⁠
👉 Mercury Giveaway Entry: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3BB8x84⁠

#HankParker #OffTheWaterPodcast #FishingTips #SpringFishing #TackleTrends #BassFishing #forwardfacingsonar #bassfishing

@academicmailbox7798 11 months ago

The Josh Jones interview on the Bilge series of interviews, that Chris and Trait Zaldain conducted was revealing, Josh was an angler who was independent of competition fishing, and entered in at the ground floor of modern electronics. So if anyone could offer an informed point of view, it could be someone like Josh.

What I'm saying is, it's not someone of our age group and era talking about technology. It's someone from the generation who is actively using it, talking about technology. And his perspective would be surprising to many (but I get back to the point, that Josh isn't trying to hold a place on something such as 'the Elites', he's separate from that world, and it enables Josh to provide the perspective he did).

There are lots more like Josh I expect who are in competition, and may not even like many aspects of sonar technology. But they're also caught between a rock and a hard place. Because you take it away, and suddenly their reality, isn't as stable or predictable.

A guest on Matt Pangrac's show, a boat builder in the industry (and I understand is second generation), for decades himself. He recounted the way in which great anglers like Biffle had several lean, no-win years prior to making a top ten. When Tommy moved from regional to national competition. His argument was, the electronics thing eliminates that lean five years. And it introduces a degree of predictability to 'performance' for younger anglers, that wasn't there for earlier generations.

My argument I guess, is that 'electronics' and sonar exists independently, and on it's own (one listens to Josh Jones who is an electronics 'super user' who isn't in competition, and one gets a small bit less biased or slanted point of view). And the equivalent angler of that age who is trying to survive in competition is singing a very different tune. So, it doesn't appear that electronics and sonar has 'brain washed' the youth, and made them helpless. But it does appear as though, competition in fishing itself, could be a greater part of the problem, than the technology itself.

For example, a veteran angler who was victorious in a competition on Okeechobee, was using a saltwater type 'fish finding' technology that scans water into the far distance. A technology which has been gotten rid of now, in the new competition rules. So it does appear, that older and younger competitors are looking to technology to gain an edge. And that reminds one, of something that is 'performance enhancing' in electronics, when put into competition fishing (I'm old enough to be watching the Seoul Olympics, and the kind of problem it was in athletics competition, to figure out the morals or ethics of fair competition).

The question I would have for Hank, if we're going through a dishonest phase in competition fishing, who in theory should be able to blow a whistle? Who in theory should be free enough of bias, to be able to do that?

6 Comments

@academicmailbox7798 11 months ago
The Josh Jones interview on the Bilge series of interviews, that Chris and Trait Zaldain conducted was revealing, Josh was an angler who was independent of competition fishing, and entered in at the ground floor of modern electronics. So if anyone could offer an informed point of view, it could be someone like Josh.
What I'm saying is, it's not someone of our age group and era talking about technology. It's someone from the generation who is actively using it, talking about technology. And his perspective would be surprising to many (but I get back to the point, that Josh isn't trying to hold a place on something such as 'the Elites', he's separate from that world, and it enables Josh to provide the perspective he did).
There are lots more like Josh I expect who are in competition, and may not even like many aspects of sonar technology. But they're also caught between a rock and a hard place. Because you take it away, and suddenly their reality, isn't as stable or predictable.
A guest on Matt Pangrac's show, a boat builder in the industry (and I understand is second generation), for decades himself. He recounted the way in which great anglers like Biffle had several lean, no-win years prior to making a top ten. When Tommy moved from regional to national competition. His argument was, the electronics thing eliminates that lean five years. And it introduces a degree of predictability to 'performance' for younger anglers, that wasn't there for earlier generations.
My argument I guess, is that 'electronics' and sonar exists independently, and on it's own (one listens to Josh Jones who is an electronics 'super user' who isn't in competition, and one gets a small bit less biased or slanted point of view). And the equivalent angler of that age who is trying to survive in competition is singing a very different tune. So, it doesn't appear that electronics and sonar has 'brain washed' the youth, and made them helpless. But it does appear as though, competition in fishing itself, could be a greater part of the problem, than the technology itself.
For example, a veteran angler who was victorious in a competition on Okeechobee, was using a saltwater type 'fish finding' technology that scans water into the far distance. A technology which has been gotten rid of now, in the new competition rules. So it does appear, that older and younger competitors are looking to technology to gain an edge. And that reminds one, of something that is 'performance enhancing' in electronics, when put into competition fishing (I'm old enough to be watching the Seoul Olympics, and the kind of problem it was in athletics competition, to figure out the morals or ethics of fair competition).
The question I would have for Hank, if we're going through a dishonest phase in competition fishing, who in theory should be able to blow a whistle? Who in theory should be free enough of bias, to be able to do that?
@fordenginebuildersv8power184 11 months ago
I first learned to tie my hook from Hank! No nicer guy alive today!
@alienschmaliens 11 months ago
👏👏🙌🙌
@jerrybeene9545 11 months ago
Hank right before you started tournaments you said you borrowed 10,000 dollars to get started with tournaments were you a saved Christian and did you pray about it before taking out that loan, God Bless
@itllkeal 11 months ago
I want to know what years Uncle Josh made the Hank Parker pro cut pork frogs because he looks young in the picture on them
@billwolf6946 11 months ago
I'm trying my best to prevent you from getting a pie thrown in your face but your link never connects me to Mercury Marine.